Account-register.



No. 830,936. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906. A. F. STAPLES & G. W. POTTER.

ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1s, 190e.

'A I W l/l//T/VESSES HQ l No. 830,936. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

A. F. STAPLES & G. W.. POTTER. f

ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1s., 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

l/l//TA/Essfs R5 mgl, {iba/'JWM N0- 830,986. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906. A.E. STAPLES & C. W. POTTER.

.ACCOUNT.REGISTEB..

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1B, 1906.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

02"? A le:

D' Qi L VVT/M5555 /A/l/E/V TH @mel/.gf g; 4%@ d T UNTTEn sTATEs PATENToEEioE ALBERT F. STAPLES, OF DORCHESTER, AND CHARLES 1V. PO'FER, OFWALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACCOUNT-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT F. STAPLEs residing at Dorchester, in thecounty of Sufhereby declare the Y.following to be a full clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will' enable others'skilledin the art to which it appertains tok make. and use 'the same.

The present'invention relates to improvements in account-registers.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and operationof accountregisters of the type in which a number of frames carry-ingbillclips are pivotally mounted so as-to be opened and closed linetheleaves of a book, particularly to produce a device of this characterin which a llarge number of frames is contained and convenientlyoperated in a comparatively small space; and to this end the inventionconsists in an account-register embodying the iniprovements in theconstruction of the frames and the construction and operation of theirsupporting and operating devices hereinafter set vforth in connectionwith the description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention,

The invention in its illustrated embodiment is an im rovement on theaccount-register describe in the copending application of ourselves,tiled February 26, 1906, Serial No. 302,879.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of an improvedaccount-register embodying the present invention, shoving the device inclosed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view in which part of the normallyhorizon- "tal leaves are raised. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of thelower portion of the register. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of'one ofthebill-holder frames. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional vicw showing one of thecatches for securing the bill-holder frames to thc uprightcarrying-frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the joints in theinclined guides for the horizontal carrying-frame.

ln the application above referred to was described an account-registercomprising a number of )ivotally-mounted frames carrying bill-holders,these frames being arranged normall in an` upright group and being swungt ownward and forward when in use. In the present invention a similargroup of upright frames is used; but another group of frames having anormally prone orfsubstantially horizontal position is combined with thegroup of upright frames, thel arrangement being sucli that withoutsubstantial increase in the space required for the register the capacityof the register is doubled. The illustrated embodiment of theinvt-mtion'also embodies certain improvements in the construction of theframes and of the mechanism by which the movements of the normallyupright frames are controlled in theI said application, together withmechanism for controlling the movements of the horizontal frames.

The normally upright frames are arranged in a group 1, as shown in Fig.1,'hinged together in a series at their lower' edges and Vpivoted inlugs 3 inthe sides of the casing -t of the register. The frames arepivoted by means of projecting pivots 2, fixed to the foremost frame 5of the upright group. These pivots rest loosely in notches in the lugs3, so that the pivots may be 'removed from the lugs when it is desiredto remove the frames from the casing. The normally horizontal frames arearranged in a group G, Fig. 1, similarly hinged'together andcoiinecti-al with the group 1, so as to be supported by the same pivots2.'

The 'bill-holden' frames consisteach of an open framework comprisingside members 7,

top and bottom members 8 and 9, and vertical and horizontal crtiss-bars1() and 11, respectively. The bottom members 9 are provided'withhinge-butts forming the hinges 12, by which the frames are comwcted.'l`lu top members S are beveled, so as to provide inclined surfaces i3presented toward the operator of the register, and upon these snr-Afaces are placed index characters to distinguish the frames, so that inlooking np an ac count in the register the proper frame may be readilyascertained.. These beveled surfaces are oppositely disposed in the twogroups of frames, as shown in Fig. 4, and they also provide convenientprovision for grasping thc free edges of the frames in order to drawdown the upright frames or raise the they are moved, elastic buffers 16are inserted in each leaf. These buffers consist of .plugs of rubber orother elastic material exltending through openings in the edges oftheframes and projecting slightly at either end. The buffers are'conveniently inserted through slits 17`, cut through the edges of theframes into the holes in which the buffers are located. The means forfacilitating or controlling the movements of the upright group of frames1 are in general somewhat similar to those described in the applicationabove referred to but the motion-controlling devices are not directlyconnected to the lastvframe of the group, but are connected to anindeendent member 18, which may be called tor convenience the uprightcarryingframe. This frame is provided with a recess in which the last ofthe grou 1 fits, as shown in .dotted lines, Fig. 1, an the bill-holderframe is held therein atits lower edge by the engagement with thecarrying-frame of the lugs 19, corresponding in position to thehinge-butts, and at its upper edge by springpressed detents comprisingsprin s 20, fixed at their lower ends to the sides o the carrying-frame18 and provided at their upper ends with pins 21, passing looselythrough holes in the carrying-frame and engaging at their inne'r endsrecesses in the bill-holder frame. To the bottom of the carryingframe 18is pivoted a link 23which is pivoted at its other end to a depending arm24, inte.-l

- gral with a sleeve 25, j ournaled upon a rockshaft 26. The rock-shaftj ournaled. at its ends in bearings 27, fixed to the sidesof the casing,and passes at its middle portion through a standard 28, rising from thebottom of the casing. mally depending arm 30, to which are coineetedsprings for controlling the movement of the frame. In the previousapplication referred to was described a construction in which springswere used only to partly counterbalance the weight 'of the-frames whenin the normal upright position and to assist the operation of drawingthe frames forward. vIt has been found, however, that inaccountregisters of various sizes and weights the rcquirements of themotion-controlling mechanism vary, it being-sometimes desirable tokprovi-de means acting after most of the upright frames have been drawndown to resist rather than to assist the movement of the remainingframes in order to prevent such 'frames from being accidentally lowered.To this end in the illustrated machine the coun- To prevent concussionbetween the frames when I The sleeve 25 has a nor- A stesseterbala'ncing-spring acts when the frames of the uprignt groupI are allin the upright position to counterbalance their weight and assist inmoving them forward and down and is arrangedto lose 'its effectivenessand cease to operate after a portion or the greater part of the frameshave been drawn down, and a supplementary spring having an oppositeeffect isarranged to come into` operation at such time and acts toretain the remaining frames in upright position.

The counterbalancing-spring 32 is adjustably secured at its rear end tothe back of the casing, and its forward end is provided with anelongated eye 33, engaging the grooved end of a stud 34 in the lower endof the arm 30. i When the u right frames are in their normal position, te spring 33 is maintained under tension by the arm 30 and tends toretate the sleeve v25 andthe arm 24 in a direction to press upwardly,through link 23, upon the upright carrying-frame 18, so as to partlycounterbalance the weight of the upright frames. As the forward framesof the group are. .turneddown, however, the carryingframe rises with therearmost frame and the sleeve 25 turns until the arm 30 by its rearward.movement permits the counterbalancing-spring 32 to close, so that itceases to operate, andl thereafter the stud 34 merely moves idly in theeye 33 on the spring. The other end of the stud 34 is connected,however, with a sleeve 35, sliding upon the end of a threaded rod 36,which loosely enters the sleeve 35 at one end and passes loosely at itsother end through an opening in a yoke 37, fixed to the back of thecasing. A compression-spring 38 engages the yoke at one end and at itsother end engages adjusting-nuts 39, threaded upon the rod 36. Stop-nuts4()- on the rear end ofthe rod 36 limits the movement ofthe rod 36 underthe influence of the compression-spring 38. An adjusting-nut 41 on therod 36 is in position to be engaged by the end of the sleeve'35 duringthe latter part of the i'ear movement of the arm 30. This constructionoperates to resist the rearward movement of the arm 3() by engagement ofthe sleeve 35 with the nut 41 and the consequent movement of the rod 36and compression of the spring 38 at or about the time when the operationof the counterbalancing spring 30 ceases, and thus the compressionspring38 and its connecting mechanism operate to resist somewhat the forwardand downward movement of the remaining upright frames. To prevent theupright frames from beingv drawn down too suddenly and slamming againstthe horizontal frames, a checking devlce is connected with the arm 24.This device comprises a cylinder 43, pivoted ati44 in a yoke 45, fixedto the back of the casing.

Within the cylinder is a piston 46, connected by means of a piston-rod47 with the arm 24.

leakage along the piston-rod. This check` device is moved freely, vowingto the action of the valve 49, during the first part of therearward-swinging motion of the arm 24, the piston at such timemovingtoward the `rear end of ,thecy'linder 43; but after the' arm24passes the position in which it is in line with the piston-rod andcontinues to swing upwardly the direction of the pistonr is reversed,the valve. 49 closes, and forward movement of the piston is resisted bythe fluid in the cylinder, and the checking device therefor operates toretard the last part of the downward movement of the frame. This devicedoesnot operate when the foremost one of the frames is turnedforward .orwhenonly a small number are so operated. The checking device operatesalso to prevent slamming of the frames when they are returned fromtheirhorizontal tol their upright position, sucl action occurring as thearm 24 swings forward toward the positiony of Figs. 2 and y The upperend of the carrying-frame 18 is provided with guiderolls 55, journaledat the corners ofthe frame and engaging flanged guides 56, fixed to thecover 57 of the casing. The cover is hinged at its rear edge and isswung upward when the -register is in use to the position shown indotted lines, Fig. 1, being'retained in suoli position by slotted links58, pivoted at their upper ends to the cover 57 and engaging screws 59in the sides of the casing. 'lhe guides when thus swung upward arearranged at such an angle' as to guide the upper 'end of thecarrying-frame and the bill-frames and to canse them to move for` wardas the framesgare turned forward and down, so 4that the foreniost,upright frame is always substantially at the same distance from theoperator of,the register..l This arrangement is substantially like thatdescribed in the application,above referred to, except that theinclinedguides are provided, as shown in Figi), with fianges engagingthe rollers Vhotli above and below, so as to prevent displacement of thecarrying-frame when the hill-holder frames are removed.

A Ihorizontal carryingfranie 601s provided -.top ,ontrol. the movementof the normally horizontal frames 6. This carrying-frame 6l) is recessedto receive the lowerniost of the horizontal bill-frames, as shown indotted lines, Fig. 4.

journalcd on the sides of the forward part of the carrying-frame andengaging guides 'lhe forward end of the carrying-frame 6() is` su iiorted b guide-rolls 61 h h The .construction of the guides 62 isarticularly in Figs. 2 and 6, these guides. eing arranged to foldautomatically intol the cabinet when not in use and extending in theiroperative position at an inclination of substantially. forty-fivedegrees forward' from the casing, so that asnthe hori- Zontal frames areturned up andfthe inner ends of the-lowermostframe and thecarrying-frame 60 are thereby raised and moved forward the forward edgesof vthese parts are caused to rise by the guide-rolls 61 run-v ning upon the guides, and thus the frames remaining horizontal are moved to,positions substantially parallel to their original positions, and theuppermost of the frames remaining horizontal occupies alwayslsubstantially 'the same vertical position. As

shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the guides 62 each comprise a fixed portion 63,screwed to the side of the casing between the casing and the frames, asecond member 64, jointed to the member 36 and a third member 65,jointedl to the member 64. The mem- Y ber 64 is lprovided with a tongue66, entering a slot in` the end of the memberl '63, and pivoted Jthereinupon a pivot 67. Shoulders 68 on the member 64 engage correspendingshoulders on Athe member 63 and limit the downward movement of themember 64 on the member 67, so as to hold the two members 'in line inthe position-of Fig. 2 when the guide-roll 61 rests upon the member 64or the member 65. yThe member 64 may be swungupward and inward freelyabout the pivot 67 to assume the position of Fig.1 when the guide is'out of use. l To cause the members 64 to be so folded in after theguide-rolls have passed down to theixed members 63 as the normallyhorizontal ICO frames are folded down to theirnormal poi sition, thetongues 66 are provided with upward projections which .project above thesurface of the guide, so that the tongues are engaged by the rolls 61,and thereby depressed into the slots in the yfixed members IIO 63,-Ycausing the members 64 to be, folded upward,las above described. Jackknife-spriiigs 69, fixed to the fixed members 63, engage the lowersurfaces of the tongues` 66 and serve to retain'the guides in eithertheir extended or their folded positions. The members 6-5 are connectedwithl the members 64 in a i mannerprecisely similar to that in which themembersv 64 and 63' are connected. Owing to the above-described arranrement,

there is no projectionl beyond th:` ront of the casing when the normallyhorizontal frames are folded down, and the guides extendv forward onlyin proportion as they are required to support the forwardly-projectingframes.-

Means are provided for partly counter-A balancing the weiglitfof thenormally liorizontal frames in order `-to assist in raising Iss zontalposition.

ing against rolls 71 on the inner corners of thel horizontalcarrying-frame 60. A coiled spring 72 (shown in Fig. 3) surrounds therock-shaft Une end of the spring is fixed to the standard 28 and theother end is fixed to an adjustable collar 73 on the rock-shaft. Thisspring tends constantly to swing the liftingarms 70 forward and upward,so as to assist in vraising the inner ends of the horizontalcarrying-frame and the horizontal bill-frames' and also `to maintainthem in raised position when they have been swung up. The portions ofthe lifting-arms 7() engaged by the lrolls 71 when all or nearly all ofthe horizontal frames are down are inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, so thatthe lifting-arms when in this position may have a lifting tendency uponthe rolls 71. in order that when only one or a few of the horizontalframes are raised the lifting-arms, which at such times are insubstantially vertical position, may still have sufficient liftingtendency to maintain the framesl so turned up in their raised position.

The checking device 7 3 by which the motion of the normally horizontalframes is checked is substantially similar in construction and operationto the checking device for the vertical frames, except that it isarranged to `et in the opposite direction, the cheekvalve, as shown inFig. 1, being on the opposite side of the piston. The piston-rod 74 ispivotally connected with one of the liftingarms 70, and the checkingdevice 'operates when the arms 70 are swung downward and l backward asthe normally horizontal frames are lowered.

We are aware that previously both accountregisters or files havingnormally vertical frames and similar devices having normally horizontalframes have been proposed 5 but it is new, so far as we-are aware, tocombine in one register frames of both classes in such a manner as topermit the free'use of either group of frames, while the entireapparatus occupies substantially the place required for one group offrames alone. The use of open 0r skeleton frames for supporting thebillclips in place of leaves or frames provided with continuous backs isalso new, so far as we are'aware, and conduces greatly to the utilityofthe device, since the frames so constructed are very light and easy tohandle. This form of frame has a further advantage in that it allows thebills Aon one frame` to encroach upon the spaces within the adjoiningframes, so that when desirable a largebundle of bills may be placed inone clip, being permitted to project beyond the frame by which itiscarried into the adjoining space without interfering with the properoperation of the device. A

The invention is not limited to the details of construction andoperation of the illustrated embodiment, but may be embodied in otherforms broadly defined in the claims.

Having now described theinvention, what is claimed is 1. Anaccount-register having, in combination, a plurality of frames hingedtogether, and a pivotal support for the frames connected with one of theintermediate frames, substantially as describedf.

2. An account-register having, in com bination, a plurality of framespivotally mounted and arranged in two groups of which one occu' iesnormally a horizontal position and the ot 1er normally an uprightposition, the pivotal supports of the two groups being adjacent to leachother, substantially as described.

3. An account-register havmg, m/combm-ation, a plurality of normallyhorizontal frames hinged together, a plurality of normally uprightframeshinged together, and a common pivotal support for the hinged edges ofthe two groups of frames, substantially as described.

4. An account-register having, in combination, a plurality of frameshinged together and occupying normally a horizontal position,.aplurality of frames hinged together and occupying normally an uprightposition, and pivotal supports for the uppermost horizontal frame andthe foremost upright frame, substantially as described.

5. An account-register having, in combination, a plurality of frameshinged together in series and occupying normally a horizontal position,a pivotal support for the uppermost frame, and meanstending to raiseandhold raised the hinged edges of the frames, substantially as described.y

6.7An account-register having, in combination, a plurality of frameshinged together and occupying normally a horizontal position, a pivotalsupport for the uppermost frame, means .utending to raise and ioldraised the hinged edges of the frames, and means acting,

IOO

when some of the frames are swung upward about their hinges to raise thefree ends of the fram es remaining horizontal, substantially asdescribed.

7. An account-register having, in combination, a plurality of movableframes hingedv together, a support for the hinged ,edges of the frames,and an extensible guide for the free edges of the frames, substantiallyas described 8. An account-register having, in combination, a pluralityof movable frames hinged together, a support for the hinged edges of theframes, and a jointed folding guide for the free edges of the frames,substantlally as described. n

9. An account-register comprlsmg a plurality of open orskeleton framesprovided one ofthe bill-holder frames, and gui with billholding s acesopening into each other so that the bi ls of one space may project intoan adjoining space and bill-cli s mounted on'the frame for holding thebillsin the bill-holding spaces7 substantially as described.

10. An account-register having, in combination, a plurality of normallyupright frames hinged toglether at the bottom, ivotal supports for t eframes, inclined gui es provided with retaining-anges, and meansconnected with one of the frames near its upper edge engaging saidguides, substantially as described.

11. An account-register hav1ng,in combination, a plurality ofoperatively-connected bill-holder frames, a carrying-frame enga ing lngmeans for causing the carryin frame to rise horizontally, substantially.as escribed.

12. An account-register havin in combination, a plurality of bill-ho derframes hinged Atogether in series, pivotal supports for one frame, acarrying-frame detachably connected With one terminal frame ofthe series, and means for iding and controlling the movements of t ecarrying-frame, substantially as described.'

In testimony whereof We afliX our signaturesvin presence of tWoWitnesses.

ALBERT ESTAPLES. CHARLES W. POTTER. Witnesses:`

HORACE VAN EVEREN, FARNUM F. DoRsEY.

